The pathogenic aβ43 is enriched in familial and sporadic Alzheimer disease

PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e55847. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055847. Epub 2013 Feb 11.

Abstract

The amyloid-cascade hypothesis posits that the role of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) in Alzheimer disease (AD) involves polymerization into structures that eventually are deposited as amyloid plaques. During this process, neurotoxic oligomers are formed that induce synaptic loss and neuronal death. Several different isoforms of Aβ are produced, of which the 40 and 42 residue variants (Aβ40 and Aβ42) are the most common. Aβ42 has a strong tendency to form neurotoxic aggregates and is involved in AD pathogenesis. Longer Aβ isoforms, like the less studied Aβ43, are gaining attention for their higher propensity to aggregate into neurotoxic oligomers. To further investigate Aβ43 in AD, we conducted a quantitative study on Aβ43 levels in human brain. We homogenized human brain tissue and prepared fractions of various solubility; tris buffered saline (TBS), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and formic acid (FA). Levels of Aβ43, as well as Aβ40 and Aβ42, were quantified using ELISA. We compared quantitative data showing Aβ levels in occipital and frontal cortex from sporadic (SAD) and familial (FAD) AD cases, as well as non-demented (ND) controls. Results showed Aβ43 present in each fraction from the SAD and FAD cases, while its level was lower than the detection limit in the majority of the ND-cases. Aβ42 and Aβ43 were enriched in the less soluble fractions (SDS and FA) of SAD and FAD cases in both occipital and frontal cortex. Thus, although the total levels of Aβ43 in human brain are low compared to Aβ40 and Aβ42, we suggest that Aβ43 could initiate the formation of oligomers and amyloid plaques and thereby be crucial to AD pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Protein Isoforms

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Protein Isoforms

Grants and funding

This work was supported by funding from Knut & Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, Stiftelsen för Gamla Tjänarinnor, Gun och Bertil Stohnes Stiftelse, Riksbanken Jubileumsfonden, the Swedish Brain Power Program, the Karolinska Institutet Strategic Neuroscience Program and Alzheimerfonden. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.